Grand Designs next week

[boatone]

I watched it last night and thought the design was imaginative and in some ways stunning, but ,ore reminiscent of an art gallery than a home. The garden impressed me greatly.
They were certainly selfish and there is no doubt that she is a lady who is intent on getting what she wants. Don't believe the financials were reported accurately , either - for a budget that had to let the garage go, the spend on interior fittings must have been horrendous.

Didn't really give us the views of many neighbours, did they?

 

[sturmvogel190a]

Absolutely agree.......I imagine New Year's Eve could be a bit quiet!

+3 wonder how they will react if someone else has a lot of building work done undoubtably blocking access road for periods etc ? ,don`t think it looks that bad tbh but seems a classic clash of new money vs old played out in many villages today not just those by the river

 

[Richard Shead]

Some say it was a crime, no more of a crime than Vince Hills contribution to the music industry...

I think it was stunning, added yes added to the area and meant that two local people have invested heavily in a plot of land using local employees (yes I know some of the interior fittings and outside slate were imported)

This river cannot survive on dilapidated properties or for that matter the old dogs that sit outside them rotting.

Its a stunning property that in my mind compliments the river, you could argue also that some of the "le Boat" hire craft spoil the views as they go past...

 

[watson1959]

+3 wonder how they will react if someone else has a lot of building work done undoubtably blocking access road for periods etc ? ,don`t think it looks that bad tbh but seems a classic clash of new money vs old played out in many villages today not just those by the river

We walk the dogs down the access road (shiplake station to Henley) and were there when the steel was being erected: even the crane caused no problems.... The only traffic down there is from the dozen or so houses and it has access both ends....

I love the place.... Good on 'em: they knew what they wanted and made a substantial local investment...

 

[Lazy Days]

Finally got around to watching it this morning. Love the look of the house and think its just the sort of innovation that the riverscape needs - it's 2012 not 1910. We clocked it back in May when we were up-river, it wasn't finished then but it was a striking addition even then.

Couldn't live in it mind you, open-plan white minimalism not for me

 

[watson1959]

Couldn't live in it mind you, open-plan white minimalism not for me

Me neither: at least not the way it's furnished at present.

I did say at the time 'Where on earth do you slouch in front of the TV or the fire?' All very sterile and not at all comfortable.

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

Me neither: at least not the way it's furnished at present.

I did say at the time 'Where on earth do you slouch in front of the TV or the fire?' All very sterile and not at all comfortable.

I imagine, having seen the character of the female owner on the program, that there will never be a dirty tea cup in sight and everything will remain squeaky clean and perfectly tidy AT ALL TIMES!

I got the impression, what she said was the LAW... LOL

Sitting in the dentists waiting room would be similar to sitting in her living room for me...

Each to their own....

 

[watson1959]

I imagine, having seen the character of the female owner on the program, that there will never be a dirty tea cup in sight and everything will remain squeaky clean and perfectly tidy AT ALL TIMES!

I got the impression, what she said was the LAW... LOL

Sitting in the dentists waiting room would be similar to sitting in her living room for me...

Each to their own....

I tend to agree! I'd love that place so long as it had some big squishy sofas....I'd convert that water-level room into a 'den': big TV, slouchy furniture, music all wired-in, home cinema, games for the boys, probably my home office etc. Upstairs could still be more formal.......BUT COMFORTABLE!

 

[dash300]

Even though I tend towards traditional construction and design, I do appreciate modern architecture. I like the Ark the Gherkin in particular (fantastic design), and the Shard. The architect for the 'Shiplake Shoebox' has to me not shown any contemporary architectural flare at all. Thameside properties can be wacky and push boundaries, this one is just dull.
As an aside I struggled to get PP for a 'green oak' timber framed eco friendly house, from the Runnemede planning authority, who gave themselves permission to build a bland new concrete and glass council office devoid of any architectuaral merit and more suited to a car dealership. Maybe I'm just the only one instep again.

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

I tend to agree! I'd love that place so long as it had some big squishy sofas....I'd convert that water-level room into a 'den': big TV, slouchy furniture, music all wired-in, home cinema, games for the boys, probably my home office etc. Upstairs could still be more formal.......BUT COMFORTABLE!

I totally agree.. It needs a bit of warm colour with squishy sofas and a couple of deep pile rugs. Definately a couple of pictues on the walls.

The den would be great as an entertainment/games room. Hubby would have to be able to fit a pool table in though.

Did anyone see a jacuzzi? I would have to have a jacuzzi..

 

[Lazy Days]

I would have to have a jacuzzi..

Me too. right now would be nice

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

Me too. right now would be nice

We thought about buying one this summer, but as it wouldn't fit on the boat we decided against it...

 

[Lazy Days]

We thought about buying one this summer, but as it wouldn't fit on the boat we decided against it...

LOL. You need a big barge; we spend a lot of time on the Canal du Midi and no self-respecting hotel barge is without a hot tub on the foredeck - also has the advantage that you can charge €25,000 per week charter if you throw in some decent food on top.

 

[watson1959]

The new redbrick house (about three to the right of the one on TV as you look from the river) had one installed in the garden decking this summer.

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

The new redbrick house (about three to the right of the one on TV as you look from the river) had one installed in the garden decking this summer.

Do they offer free mooring and a jacuzzi?

 

[Mirror Painter]

Shared a lock recently with a man who was taking his narrow boat back to the home mooring having had a new Aga fitted!

 

[watson1959]

Do they offer free mooring and a jacuzzi?

Good idea! I'll ask next time I use it

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

Shared a lock recently with a man who was taking his narrow boat back to the home mooring having had a new Aga fitted!

Very nice but not for me.

 

[Chris_d]

The chalet style one next to the one featured (to the left as views from the river) has a last teen family in it ( the blonde lady interviewed a couple of times)... Do you mean the one to the right ?

No its the one to the left, has been rented out until the old one sold apparently.

 

[Sulley]

I loved the look of the house and would happily live there!

Did anyone else think it looked like a few bits of furniture had been staged for the last bit of the programme and they didn't live actually live there yet?